Oil boom fears flow in pristine Irish Hills (Michigan)

[marmar]

from the Detroit Free Press:



BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Bringing with it concerns about potential earthquakes, contaminated drinking water and dangerous spills, an oil boom has hit the popular, pristine vacation destination of the Irish Hills in Jackson and Lenawee counties.

Tall rigs punch holes among lakes and wetlands, and gas flares light up the night sky.

In Adrian, rows of pink flags mark the spots where oil companies are doing seismic testing to determine whether there's oil below homes. Schools and colleges have leased out lands for oil drilling. Horses gaze across fields to pumping oil derricks.

.....(snip).....

Fracking fears

Fears that the oil companies might be using hydraulic fracturing, or fracking -- a process in which millions of gallons of water and chemicals are shot at high pressure down a well to break up oil- or gas-bearing rock -- drew about 400 people to a town hall earlier this month. ..................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.freep.com/article/20120318/NEWS06/203180473/Oil-boom-fears-flow-in-pristine-Irish-Hills?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE